Electronically Translated Text

"All the large waterholcs are filled, and the country between Marree and Oodnadatta has any amount of feed," said Mr. Walter Kidinan yesterday after having visited Macumba Station.

The country was in wonderful heart on that run. he said. He went 150 miles down the Macumba Creek to within 40 miles of the Diamantina. Down towards Lake Eyre on the north side of the windswept Samphire flats the country was very poor. 'There are not many cattle left in the Oodnadatta district; they have had a terrible time there during the last three years,' Mr. Kidman added. 'There are none on Crown Point Sta tion, which has been closed up for the time being. They nave not had a good rain there for six or seven years. Rabbits Seen Again He never saw a rabbit during his stay at Macumba. but they were increasing on Stuart's Creek out in the sandhills toward the Andamoka netting. It was only a matter of Betting two or three good seasons, and they would be pretty thick again, he said. 'There are thousands of ducks at the waterhotes on Stuart's Creek and Macumba — more than I have ever seen before. They are very tame, and one can almost knock them over with a stick. 'I did not see one wild turkey, how ever. I expected to see a lot there in a season like this. The drought evi dently settled the wild dogs; I saw tracks of two only.' Mr. Kidman said fine improvements had been made at Macumba home stead, around which box gum seedlings transplanted from the creek were grow ing to a good height. A buffalo lawn and a lucern plot provided welcome green growth. Water from an artesian bore laid on to the homestead gave a permanent hot water service for bath purposes. -